Reversible top over-bed table



June 1954 w. s. MILLER" REVERSIBLE TOP OVER-BED TABLE Filed Feb. 13, 1953 JNVENTOR MLLIAM 5 MILLER .BY

fifififi E Patented June 22, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,681,840 REVERSIBLE TOP OVER-BED TABLE William S. Miller, Ogden, Utah Application February 13, 1953, Serial No. 336,896

(Granted under Title 3-5, U. S. Code (1952),

see. 266) i 3 Claims.

This invention may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to tables and more particularly to a mobile table that may be detachably secured to a hospital bed or the like.

Hospital patients and other bedridden persons, such as those encased in splints or bound in Balkan frames and the like, frequently require a table surface on which to write or perform other manual operations requiring the use of such heavy apparatus as typewriters, looms and other devices available in the various crafts and commonly used in physical therapy. However, most conventional bed tables either are arranged to straddle the bed or they are rigidly secured as apermanent part and both of these arrangements impose undesirable use limitations. Obviously, the straddling type is not suitable for patients Whose tension frames, etc. require corner post uprights and, further, such tables have been found inconveniently large and cumbersome. As to the permanent tables, these are frequently in the road and present a problem during bedside treatments or when the bed is moved through narrow doors and passageways. Further, very few of these have such a universal movement or flexibility required to position them at their most convenient heights and angles for the many different uses to which they are put. Yet another difiiculty has been that such tables as are adapted to be secured to the beds nevertheless are so limited in movement that they must be secured to one side only in order that their table top or working surface will be upright.

Accordingly, a principal object of this invention is to provide a universally adjustable and mobile table that may be detachably secured to either side of a bed or other supporting structure, the adjustability permitting either side of the table to be used as a working surface.

These and other objects will become apparent from the detailed description and the accompanying drawing.

According to the present invention, the table generally is formed with a base on which is mounted a vertical standard for supporting a table top, the vertical standard mounting a clamping mechanism that, preferably, is vertically slidable for engaging the side rails of different bed frames to hold the table in a fixed position with respect to the bed. Most suitably, the base is elongate to extend beneath the support and it is provided with casters facilitating mobility. To permit the table top to be adjusted in height with respect to the patient, the standard is longitudinally extensible, preferably, in a telescopic fashion and, further, the table top itself is rotatable about its own horizontal axis so as to adjust the inclination of its working surface. As another feature of the invention, the mounting of the table top is so arranged that either side of the top can be used as .a working surface and, in a manner to be described in detail later, such a mounting includes a frictionally held rotatable drum in which an end portion of the table is secured. Such an arrangement precludes the necessity of projecting an elongate bracket beneath one side of the table top and, further, the frictional clutch allows the top to be fixed in any rotational disposition.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a partially-sectioned side elevation of the table attached to a bed, and Fig. 2 a rear elevation of the table.

As illustrated in the drawing, the table comprises a base 4 mounting a vertical stanchion or standard 6 terminating in a table top 8 projecting from one side and adapted to be positioned over a bed It). The table is designed with a C-shaped structure, the table top and base forming arms spaced sufficiently apart to accommodate the bed and each extending in the same direction. In this manner a substantial portion of the table top extends over the bed available for use by the occupant and a substantial portion of the base extends beneath the bed directly under the table top. Thus, the table top and base occupy a minimum of lateral space adja cent the bed with the outer sideof the standard free of any projections that may restrict the passage between beds.

The table is provided with a broad base necessary to support the offset table top and its supported load. Further, this base is provided with casters l2 to provide maximum mobility, a factor which is extremely important in hospital wards Where the table may be shunted from one bed to another, and which also is especially convenient if the table happens to be supporting heavy apparatus, such as a typewriter and various physical therapy equipment, as looms, etc. With the provision of casters or rollers, the equipment may be retained on the table, and the table and equipment moved away as a unit, to another bed or into storage.

To anchor the table to the bed for preventing accidental separation, such as might well occur due to the use of casters on the base, a clamp i4 is mounted on the standard for detachably engaging a portion of the bed, such as a bed rail IE5. One type of clamping attachment found to be satisfactory comprises a fiat upright plate I8 bolted to the inner side of standard 6 and having a plurality of vertical slots in which slide threaded lugs as, theselugs. being adapted to engage the bed rail when clamped by wing nuts 22. The slots provide vertical adjustability for attaching the table to beds of various heights, and if necessary a similar provision may be provided for horizontal adjustment; Thus, a simpleclamping attachment reduces the time required for connecting and disconnecting the table and the bed. The clamping attachment reduces the size of the base beyond that which otherwise would be necessary to support the load as it supplies a central stabilizing force. 1

The standard may providing a telescopic connection permitting the table top to be adjusted in height and locked by knob 24 in the extended position. As shown,

such a connection is provided by forming stanchion t of a lower sleeve portion 6a and an upper telescoping shaft portion 6b, shaft 617, preferably, having an extensible limit of about 30 inches and being itself rotatable about the vertical axis of the sleeve portion. Table top 8 is provided with an unlimited rotation throughout its horizontal axis (see Fig. 2), by affixing one of its ends in a notch 2-5 formed in a drum 26 rotatably supported by the standard on a horizontal pin 28 and controlled in rotation by a circumferential flange 30 positioned between a fixed friction plate 32 and a ring 33 loosely fitted around the drum. The ring is drawn to the plate to clamp the flange in the desired position by several wing and nut bolts 34 spaced around the drum. is constructed to be reversible, that is, with finished upper and lower surfaces enabling either side to be used, and it may be furnished with perforations or clamps (not shown) by which various apparatus may be bolted to the table and used by patients in a prone position with the table top in a substantially normal position to the bed. Furthermore, since the reversible table top is rotatable completely around its axis, it is possible to use either side of the table top, or both sides can be utilized alternatively in the situation when one side has an attached tool. This construction enlarges the use of the table for it may be mounted to either side of the bed with equal facility to the table top.

According to the invention, I have provided a table which can be easily rolled into and out of position with respect to a bed, and quickly attached to or detached from the bed frame. This construction is particularly advantageous when the table is supporting heavy equipment for use by the bed occupant as the table may be rigidly attached'to the bed without danger of separation. The table top may be securely clamped in any position around its axis of rotation and of a rigid construction to support heavy equipment, such as a typewriter. Although the table is shown constructed of wood, obviously it can be fabricated of metal or any other suitable material. The table standard may be madeextensible, permitting the table top to be adjusted in height over the bed, and the bed clamping attachment is also made adjustable. for attachment frames of various designs. The table. is advantageously used in conjunction with beds, however, it is be extensible in length by- The table top 4 apparent that the table may be used with other types of supports, such as a chair.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. An overbed table comprising a table member, a base, a stanchion supported by the base, means for clamping said stanchion to said bed, and means for rotatably supporting said table member on said stanchion, said supporting means including a friction plate rigidly secured to the upper end of the stanchion, a rotatable drum, and means for clamping said drum in a tightly fixed position against said friction plate, said drum being provided with a notch extending from side to side substantially through its rotational axis, and said table being rigidly secured in said notch, whereby said table member is fixable at any rotational disposition and both sides of the member are selectively usable as a smooth working surface.

2. An overbed table comprising a table member, a base, a stanchion supported by the base, a means for clamping said stanchion to said bed, and means for rotatably' supporting said table member on said stanchion, a rotatable drum provided with a radially extending flange portion, a friction ring mounted on said drum in engagement with said radial flange, and bolt means extending through said ring and plate for clamping said drum between said ring and plate, said drum being provided with a notch extending from side to side substantially through its rotational axis, and said table being rigidly secured in said notch, whereby said table member is fixable at any rotational disposition and both sides of the member are selectively usable as a smooth work.- ing surface. 1

3. An overbed table comprising a table member, a base, a telescoping stanchion supported by the. base, vertically-adjustable means for clamping said stanchion to said bed, and. means for rotatably supporting said table member on said stanchion, said supporting means including a friction plate rigidly secured to the upper end of the stanchion, a rotatable drum provided with a radially extending flange portion, a friction ring mounted on said drum in engagement with said radial flange, and bolt means extending through said ring and plate for clamping said drum between said ring and plate, said drum being provided with a notch extending from side to side substantially through its rotational axis, and said table being rigidly secured in said notch, whereby said table member is fixable at any rotational disposition and both sides of the member. are selectively usable as a smooth working surface.

References Cited in the file of thi patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 462,319 Loehner et a1. Nov. 3, 1891 518,733 Cook Apr. 24, 1894' 1,053,357 Carter Feb. 18, 1913 1,286,087 Petus et a1. Nov. 26, 1918 2,605,155 'Lewis July 29, 1952 2,628,142 Dubach Feb. 10, 1953 

